Complaints from parents of children with autism over limited understanding in public spaces — particularly supermarkets — have increased over the past year, prompting renewed calls for greater flexibility, awareness and compassion from businesses.
Events and Coordination Chairman of the Autism Association of Barbados, Chantal Fields, said that while public awareness has improved, many families continue to face difficulties in everyday interactions as they navigate autism.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the association’s annual Autism Awareness Walk on Tuesday, Fields said: “I’ve had a lot of parents who complained about that. So a little grace would go a long way; being able to understand that everybody can’t just walk through the supermarket.”
She explained that some autistic children require close supervision to ensure their safety in public spaces, including being placed in shopping trolleys, a practice some businesses have moved to restrict.
“For example, some autistic individuals like to elope. So as simple as going to the supermarket to purchase items, you have to kind of quarantine yourself,” she said. “However, I know of other parents who have challenges where they would try to put their child in a basket, but I’ve seen a lot of supermarkets now having up signs saying that they don’t want children to be in the basket and stopping children from doing that when on our end it’s a safety thing.”
Fields stressed that a more accommodating approach from businesses could significantly ease the burden on parents.
“I would say for some businesses just give a little bit more grace because everybody with autism does not function the same way and some people may need that extra support like quarantining or you have to restrict them from running around,” she said. “So as simple as letting them sit in the cart even if you have to present some type of identification or proof or whatever so that people could be just a little bit more understanding.”
She noted that while challenges persist, there have been gradual improvements in workplace support, with some employers showing increased sensitivity towards parents of autistic children.
“I know some corporate places would allow the parents of autistic children to have a little bit more leniency and you know you come in at a different shift time if you have therapies, they allow you to go out and come back,” Fields said. “A lot of parents have expressed that their workplaces have been very supportive.”
On the education front, Fields said efforts towards inclusive schooling remain in the early stages.
“In regards to the school system, I think that the ministry is trying, I think that they’re trying to implement a more inclusive education. It’s not lifted off as yet, it’s at its pilot stages,” she said. “Probably in the next five years, maybe for people who are currently in the system, it may not benefit us, but it will benefit other individuals to come.”
She added that recent legislative developments and planned skills-based training initiatives could improve long-term outcomes.
“We are partnering with SJPIT soon to offer a couple of courses which will be more skill based for persons to do like cooking, carpentry, those types of things so that persons will gain some type of employment,” Fields said. “So I would say that the opportunities are opening up and people are being a little bit more receptive to that.”
Fields maintained that while awareness campaigns have increased public knowledge, gaps in understanding remain.
“I would say yes and no. Yes, because we’ve been actively with awareness, actively doing awareness and people are becoming knowledgeable about it, but in some instances, not really,” she said.
Her comments came as more than 300 supporters gathered from as early as 6:30 a.m. for the Autism Awareness Walk.
Participants set out from the Social Empowerment Agency and made their way through Lower Collymore Rock, Culloden Road, Beckles Road and Dalkeith Road, circled the Garrison, and continued along Highway 7 before returning to their starting point. The event also included a cool-down session, reinforcing the association’s ongoing push for greater awareness, acceptance and practical support for individuals with autism and their families.
(SZB)
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